MOSCOW

Russia claimed on Saturday that it had taken control of another settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The group of forces Tsentr (Center) captured the settlement of Zhelanne Pershe around 46.3 kilometers (25.6 miles) southeast of the city of Pokrovsk, a key point in the ongoing offensive on Ukraine’s eastern front, said a Russian Defense Ministry statement.

Russian forces accelerated their advances in Donetsk in recent months, reportedly taking control of dozens of settlements. On Friday, the ministry claimed that at least six settlements in Ukraine came under Russian control this week alone.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Russia's claims, and independent verification of the claims is challenging due to the ongoing war.

Before the current war, in 2014 to 2022, areas of Eastern Ukraine had been beset by a Russian-supported separatist movement.